Background: Golden Rice (GR) has been genetically engineered to be rich in b-carotene for use as a source of vitamin A.Objective: The objective was to compare the vitamin A value of b-carotene in GR and in spinach with that of pure b-carotene in oil when consumed by children.Design: Children (n = 68; age 6–8 y) were randomly assigned to consume GR or spinach (both grown in a nutrient solution contain- ing 23 atom% 2H2O) or [2H8]b-carotene in an oil capsule. The GR and spinach b-carotene were enriched with deuterium (2H) with the highest abundance molecular mass (M) at Mb-C+2H10. [13C10]Ret- inyl acetate in an oil capsule was administered as a reference dose. Serum samples collected from subjects were analyzed by using gas chromatography electron-capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the enrichments of labeled retinol: Mretinol+4 (from [2H8]b-carotene in oil), Mretinol+5 (from GR or spinach [2H10]b- carotene), and Mretinol+10 (from [13C10]retinyl acetate).Results: Using the response to the dose of [13C10]retinyl acetate (0.5 mg) as a reference, our results (with the use of AUC of molar enrichment at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after the labeled doses) showed that the conversions of pure b-carotene (0.5 mg), GR b-car- otene (0.6 mg), and spinach b-carotene (1.4 mg) to retinol were 2.0, 2.3, and 7.5 to 1 by weight, respectively.Conclusions: The b-carotene in GR is as effective as pure b-carotene in oil and better than that in spinach at providing vitamin A to chil- dren. A bowl of w100 to 150 g cooked GR (50 g dry weight) can provide w60% of the Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake of vitamin A for 6–8-y-old children.

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Vitamin A enhanced cassava could help Nigeria reduce economic losses in GDP, that are currently estimated to be at $1.5 billion, says Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga.

“But more than economic savings, it will also improve the nutrition of women and children who are the most vulnerable,” said Sanginga at the public presentation of pro-vitamin A varieties by the Nigerian government in Umudike last weekend.

Abstract

Biofortification, that is, improving the micronutrient content of staple foods through crop breeding, could be a pro-poor, pro-rural, agriculture-based intervention to reduce the health burden of micronutrient malnutrition. While the potential cost-effectiveness of crops biofortified with single micronutrients was shown in previous research, poor people often suffer from multiple micronutrient deficiencies, which should be accounted for in biofortification initiatives. This study is the first to estimate the potential health benefits and cost-effectiveness of multi-biofortification. Rice with enhanced provitamin A, zinc, iron and folate concentrations is used as a concrete example. The research is conducted for China, the largest rice producer in the world, where micronutrient malnutrition remains a major public health problem. Using the DALY (disability-adjusted life year) framework, the current annual health burden of the four micronutrient deficiencies in China is estimated at 10.6 million DALYs. Introducing multi-biofortified rice could lower this burden by up to 46%. Given the large positive health impact and low recurrent costs of multi-biofortification, this intervention could be very cost effective: under optimistic assumptions, the cost per DALY saved would be around US$ 2; it would stay below US$ 10 even under pessimistic assumptions. Continue reading →

Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition is widespread, especially in poor populations across the globe where daily caloric intake is confined mainly to staple cereals. Rice, which is a staple food for over half of the world’s population, is low in bioavailable micronutrients required for the daily diet. Improvements of the plant-based diets are therefore critical and of high economic value in order to achieve a healthy nutrition of a large segment of the human population. Rice grain biofortification has emerged as a strategic priority for alleviation of micronutrient malnutrition. Nutritional enhancement of crops through conventional breeding is often limited by the low genetic variability for required dietary micronutrient levels. In this case, biotechnology strategies offer effective and efficient perspectives. In this review, we discuss genetic engineering approaches that have been successful in the nutritional enhancement of rice endosperm. These advancements will make substantial contributions to crop improvement and human nutrition. Their practical application, however, also demands visionary changes in regulatory policies and a broader consumer acceptance.